Method of picking fowl



May 13, 1952 A. w. SHARP 2,596,443

` METHOD OF PICKING FOWL May 13, 1,952 A. w. SHARP 2,596,443

METI-IQD OF PICKING FOWL Original Filed June 4, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 l l .Hilf/2 f5/P460 @M em May 13, 1952 A. w. SHARP METHOD 0F PICKING FowL 4 Sheets-Shee'c 5 Original Filed June 4,A 1947 w: mK

QI/@2p y? May 13, 1952 n A. w. SHARP 2,596,443

METHOD OF' PICKING FOWL Original Filed June 4, 1947 l4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [7m/67a fr:

Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF PICKING FOWL Original application June 4, 1947', Serial No; 752,314. Divided and this applioationlpril 23 1949, Serial No. 89,209

claims. (ci. ,1i-e451 This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 752,314, filed June 4, 1947.

Thepresent invention relates to o method. of picking fowl.

A serious objection to previous methods of picking fowls is that it Was practically impossible, by theuse thereof, to pick all of the feathers from the fowls. It was formerly customary to suspend fowls on a moving overhead conveyor, and at a point along the line of travel a picker operated onv the fowls, sweeping downwardly thereover. There were certain parts of the fowls which were not completely picked,lsuch as the back ofthe wings, back, etc. Those parts of the fowls were not in position Where the picker could strike the feathers,

Itwas then customary to. iinish the picking process by hand operation. The picking operasA tionv could beA carried further by mechanical means by reversing the fowls on the conveyor, and subjecting them again to a picker. Such reversal -of the fowls involved the expensive hand opera-,- tion of reversing. the fowls.

I conceived the ideay that, instead of reversing the fowlslon the conveyor for a second operation, the picking operation could be reversed, result-4 ing in greater. eiiiciency and economy. Various diiiiculties were of course encountered, the chief one being that if the picking mechanism swept upwardly over the fowls suspended from an overhead conveyor, the fowls would be carried up? Wardlyandidangle above the picking mechanism.

I` nextoonoeived the idea of holding the heads oi, the .fowls down-.tor the, 11o-sweeping piokine operation,

It istherefore an object of the present inven: tion to provide a method of picking fowls which comprises the steps of supporting the fowls in depending position, holding the lower ends of the fowls against upward movement, and picking the fowls.

Another obieot is the provision of o method of picking foWlS, of the nature above referred to, which can readily be employed conjunction with conventional picking methods heretofore knowni whereby substantially all of the feathers are picked from the fowls.

Still another object is the provision oi a method of picking fowls, of the nature above referred to, in which the picking operation is intermittent.

A further object is the provision of a method of picking fowls, of the nature above referred to, in which the picking operation takes effect on the fowls progressively from one end of the'fowls to the other, and then is reversed.

, 2 Withl these and other objects View; this irlvention consists in the method as hereinafter more vfolly set forth,` pointed out in the claims hereifmand embodied in the operation ofthe de? i vice illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure l is end View of o machine designed for carrying out the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view, as viewed from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top View;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 4,-4 oi .Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a partial View taken on line 5-5 oi Figure l;

Figure 6- is .o oortialvew token on line i-of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a detail view of the center off `one of` the chicken picking drums;

Figure 8 is a view, on a reduced scale, taken on line 8 -8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a reduced diagrammatic illustration showing the different positions of adjustment of the head holding means;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic'view showingvan ious positions of the chicken Apicking drums; and

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic control mechanism for operating the chicken picking means.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the device includes a main frame I2 having an end unit at each end ofthe machine, each end unit comprising inner upright members I4, horizontal' {nem-bers I6, and otherreinforcing and strengtheningmemhers I8. The two end units are intere connected by `longitudinal members L9. The mechanism is to be used in connection with a conveyor indicated generally at 2l] Afrom which fowls are suspended, The conveyor is provided with customary driving means, and travels longitudinally through the machine from left to right as illustrated in Figure; The frame end units are secured together at the top by Vmeans ofyokes V422,` one at -each end of the frame, whicharefremovablyseoured in the upper ends ofthe respective upright `members I4. -The Vyokes 22y are placedin position after adjusting themachine with relation to the conveyor 2i?, since the con-,- veyor may bedesigned for other machinery; The apparatus may be supported on adjustable legs24 to compensate for unevenness in the supporting floor.

A fowl is indicated at -26 in Figure 1, Supported by a shackle 28 which may be of anylconenient type. Shackles 23 are spaced at conous chicken pickers swept downwardly over theY fowls and in order to sweep upwardly it is necessary to secure their heads and retain them.

from rising upwardly. To this end a head holding means is provided for engaging the heads of the fowls and retaining them down.

The head holding means is indicated as a whole at 30, and includes a pair of longitudinal members or shields 32, having inturned at portions 34 and 35 (Figure 4). The at portion 34 may be secured to the respective shield 32, but the portion 35 is separate from its shield 32 for adjustment purposes, as will be pointed out later. The shields 32 form an inverted trough, that is, their sides are inclined outwardly and downwardly, and are supported by longitudinal re-I inforcing tubular members 36. The shields 32 are spaced apart so that the upper flat portions 34 and 35 form a longitudinal open channel 33, and depending from the under surfaces of the flat portions 34 and 35 are backing plates 43 which extend downwardly a short distance and reach longitudinally substantially the full length of the head holding means. It will be noted that the head holding means 33 extends entirely through the machine.

The shields 32 are supported in relative positions, and the head holder frame rendered unitary, by cross pieces 42 at each end to which the tubular members 36 are secured (Figures 5 and 6). Extending longitudinally beyond the tubular members 35 at each end of the head holder frame are additional members 43 to the ends of which are secured cross pieces 44. At the entering end of the machine (the left of Figure 3) Vvertical lbearing members 45 are interposed at the juncture between the members 43 and the cross pieces 44, but at the exit end, the bearing members 45 may be omitted.

Secured to each cross piece 42, as by welding, are a pair of plates 46, spaced apart relative to each other, and extending upwardly and outwardly from the cross pieces.

The upper portions of the plates 46 are turned over horizontally, and secured to the outer extremities of the upper iiat portions of the platesV 46 are brackets 41 which in turn support collar elements 48. 'I'he collar elements 48 are adapted to slidingly engage the upright members I4 .of the main frame I2 for vertical adjustment of the head holder frame 30.

Hoods 49 and 49 are secured to the ends of the ilat portions 34 and 35 of the shields 32. rlhe hoods 4S! and 49 at each end of the head hold-v ing frame are spaced apart from each other, similarly to the plates 43, and have portions eX- tending horizontally, and downwardly.

A pair of chains 56 are arranged in the head holding means below the flat portions 34 and 35 of the shields 32 so that each chain has a run on the inside of the respective backing .plate 40, and a run 52 on the outside thereof. The chains 50 may loe conventional sprocket chains. If desired, horizontal supporting ledges such as 53 may be .provided for supporting the chains 50 upwardly.

A pair of driving sprockets 54 are supported by shafts 55 and 56 in the vertical bearing members 45 at Vthe entering end of the head holder 33, one sprocket being on each side of the open channel 33, over which respective chains 50 are trained. The sprockets 54 are operated by meshing gears 51 and 58 secured to the lower ends of the shafts 55 and 53 below the respective cross piece 44. The cross pieces 44 are disposed a considerable distance below the flat portions 34 and 35 of the shields 32 to provide space for the heads of the fcwls, as will be explained more fully later. Idler sprockets 59 are provided adjacent the driving sprockets 54 to guide the outer runs E-Zaround the driving sprockets 54. The idler sprockets 59 may be journalled in the horizontal portionsA of the hoods 49 `and 49'; the hoods 43 and 43' may have bearing support on the upperV ends ofthe shafts 55 and 56, if desired; a slot'l is provided in the hood 43 to accommodate the shaft 56.

The opposite or exit end of the head holder 33, shown at the right of Figure 3, is provided with cooperating sprockets 5| and corresponding idler sprockets 621, both of which maybe supported by the respective hoods 49 and 49'. Additional shields 63 may be provided at the ends of all of the hoods 49 and 49.

The width of the open channel 38 inthe head holding means 30 may be adjusted Within limits. An adjusting screw 34 is Vthreaded in a bracket 66 ilxedon the plate 46 adjacent the hood 49 at each end of the machine. The screws 64 have operable connection with the vertical portions of the hoods 49', and by adjusting the screws, the hoods 49 andthe interconnecting flat portion 35 of the adjacent shield 32 can be adjusted in and out. This movement carries the respective backing plate 40 and the corresponding. runs 5| and 52 of thechainrtro- Ward and away from the opposite backing plate and chain. Although the Vsprocket 54 remains fixed, and the sprockets 53, 6l and 62 move with the hoods 49', the movement of the hoods 49' is so smallthat the tension of the chain 56 on that side of the head holder means is not materially effected. The distance between the runs 5I of the chains is determined by the sizes of the necks of the fowls passingthrough the machine. The extent of adjustment of the channel 38 needV not be great, only enough to accommodate the diierent sizes of necks of the fowls.

Drive for'the chains 55 is provided by a motor 61 at the entering end of the head holder 30 and supported on oneV side thereof by the respective hood 46. A drive pulley 68 on the motor 61 by means of belt 63 drives a gear box 13 having a drive gear 12 which meshes with the gear 51. It will thus be seen that both chains 50 are driven by the motor 61, through meshing gears 51 and 58.

Secured to each of the plates 46, as by means of brackets 11 at each end of the head holder 36. and on each side of the center thereof is a guide frame 13. The guide frames 18 are in the form of plates disposed transversely of the machine.

Each guide frame 18 includes a slot 8D, the upper major portion of which is vertical as indicated at 32. *The lower portion o1 each slot 33, as indicated at 34, is angled outwardly and downwardly parallel to the inclination of the shields 32 of the head holder 30. The upper and lower ends of the guide frames 18 are Vprovided with bearing collars 86 yslidably tted on the upright members I4. The bearing collars on the guide frames 18, and the collar elements 48 on the plates 46, are adapted to slide i alonghthe'uprightv members I4 for vertical Lad- Justment ofthe 'head holding means 30.

A winch indicated at 90 is supported on the mainframe I2 for vertical adjustment oi the head holding means 30. One vflexible cable indicated at92- leads directly from the winch to the adjacent side of the head holding'means 30 (Figure 1'), anda second iiexible cable 04 leads downwardly, across the main frame, and to the oppositeV side of themachine, where it then leadsupwardlyfand 'is trained over a pulleyand connected to the headholding means atvthe opposite side of the machine. Thus the central portion ofthe machine is kept clear for the lpassage off fowls therethrough. The cables 02 and 9.4 are secured to the outer ends of plates 40 which in turn are secured on the head holding means` 30. The winch 00 is secured on a shaft -98 extending longitudinally of the ma chine, and on the opposite end a similar arrangement of winch and cables is provided `for the lopposite end of the head holding means 30. By operation of the Winches 00 the head holding means 30 may be raised and lowered. The guide frames 10, being iixedly secured to the head' holding means 30, are raised and lowered with the head holding means.

The picking lmeans includes a pair of rotat.

able drums |00 disposed on axes positioned longitudinally of the machine. The construction of the drums |00 may be observed from Figures '7` ,and 8. Each drum `|00 includes a shaft |02 1111011 which is mounted a frame-work |00 including a plurality-of axially extending plates |06. Each plate |06 is provided with a series `ofnotches |08. The notches |08 are V-shaped at y tl'leir outer ends, yand their inner ends are rounded 4for insertion of flexible picking fingers I I0. The ngers ||0 are inserted in the notches |08 and when so inserted are securely held in place therein by friction. Rotation of the drum is preferably as indicated by the arrow in Figure 8 fso that the picking fingers 0 are more easily retained in the notches.

The picking fingers ||0 `are preferably long 'and flexible. When the drum is stationary, the ,fingers ||0 are flexible enough to hang, and the 4outstretched position of the lingers in Figure 8 indicates rotation. The fingers ||0 also preferably are provided with circumferential ribs. The Vrepresentation of the drums |00 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is semi-diagrammatic; they are.

shown 4only in the outline `of the extremities of the lingers I I0 when in rotation.

.Ea-ch drum |00 is supported by a. framework including `an upright arm ||2 pivoted at ||4 o n the Alower transverse frame member I0. One -such arm ||2 is provided at each end of the machine for each drum. A longitudinal shaft or bar lI6 is pivoted in the upper swinging ends of :the respective arms H2. Rigidly secured to -eachend of the longitudinal shaft IIB is a second swinging arm H8. In the outer ends of the arms I I8 are bearing members |20 for supporting the ends of the shaft |02 of the Vrespective-picking drum |00. outwardly of the bearing members |20 are enlarged extensions |22 fixed to the shaft |02 and adapted to extend into and slide in the vguide slots 80.

The drums |00 are adapted to be raised and lowered and be guided by the slots 80 as will be more `fully `explained later. 'The means for rais- -ing and lowering-the drums |00 consist of a hydraulic ram |24. One such ram, |24 is provided `for each drum, and is pivoted on an arm |25 on 6 the frame I2. The present illustrationnhows the rams |24v pivoted adjacent the pivot ypoi-nts H4 ofi the arms H2, but this may be -variedrif desired; Sincethe. arms I8 are rigidlyy secured to the longitudinal member IGthey lforma `rigid framework, and the hydraulic, ram V|24 being disposed only: at one end` thereof is effective `for raising and lowering the arms` I8 -at both ends, and thereby prevent bindingof the drum |00 in its movements.

The frame-work for supporting the drums |00 is provided with appropriate reinforcing members such as vertical plates 25 to which the rams |24 may be secured, and a horizontal plate |28. A drive motor |30 is supported on Athe horizontal plate |23 and has appropriate drive by meansof a belt |32 to the picking drum |00. One .such drive motor |30 is provided for each picking drum |00. As the picking drum |00 is raised andlowered the drive motor |30 is carried there- With.

The raising and lowering of the picking drums |00 is eiected automatically. Gear 58 is pro.- vided with downwardly extending pins |34 which on rotation of the gear 58 engage a trip lever |36 in a valve operating device |38 carried by the head holding means 30. On one side of the machine one of the swinging arms 8 which supports the drum |00 has secured thereto a plate |30 `upon which is mounted a vertically acljustable pin |00 adapted to engage a 'trip lever 02 in a second valve operating device |44. The pins |04 are adapted to actuate the hydraulic drive so that the rams |24 are extended, and the pin |40 is operable to reverse the action of `the hydraulic drive when the picking drums |00 reach the desired height. The height to which the drums |00 are-raised can be controlled by adjusting the pin |00 to different heights.

Figure 11 shows diagrammatically one form of Vhydraulic mechanism for actuating the `hydraulic rams |24. A pump and reservoiris indicated at |40 having leads |40 to the rams |24. As the gear 50 rotates, the pins |34 engage the trip lever |30 operating a valve which actuates the hydraulic system to extend the hydraulic rams |20. After the drums |00 reach the desired height, the pin |00 on the arm H3 engages the trip lever |42 and reverses the hydraulic drive so that the picking drums |00 descend. The particular kind of hydraulic drive does not form an :essential part of the present invention, and any desired drive may 'be used. For .example vthe `picking ydrums |00 maybe permitted `to descend of their own weight; or they -may'vbe 'lowered positively.

'Practical operation The head holding means 30 is adjusted to an appropriate height to accommodate `fo'wls of the particular sizes being treated. Fowls vary in size from one to the next, and of course different kinds of fowls are 4of different sizes. lOne cus,- tomary type of classification, for which convenient-adjustment ofthe machine may be made, is recognized as-little chickens, big chicken-s, lit tle turkeys, and big turkeys..

Figures l and 4 illustrate a fowl which is `small compared with the present position of adjustment of the headholding means 30. That is, the head of the fowl is'just below the inner runs 5| of the chains 50. The dotted line `position ofthe head of the fowl in Figure 4 indicatesa larger fowl, and in such a case the head depends considerably below the chains 50. As the fowls travel along the conveyor the necks pass through the open' channel 30 in the head holding means. The picking drums rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, the picking lingers |00 sweeping upwardly over 'the fowls. The inner runs 5| of the chains 50 are adjusted so that they do not bear heavily on 'the necks of the fowls, but are at such spacing that the heads of the fowls cannot move upwardly between the chains. As the picking drums sweep upwardly on the fowls they are prevented from being raised and tossed.

In the case of large fowls from which the heads depend substantially below the chains 50,

the picking drums |00 in their upsweep operation carry the fowls upwardly to a point where the head engages the chains 50. Such large fowls then actually float between the head holding `means and the conveyor and the entire neckV is exposed to the picking operation.

Y Figure 9 shows diagrammatically different positions of vertical adjustment of the head holding means 30. It will be noted that considerable range is provided to accommodate different sizes of fowls. It will also be noted that for any one position of adjustment a considerable range is provided for different sizes of fowls, as evidenced by the space between the chains 53 and the gears l and 58.

In the picking operation it is desirable that the picking process is not constant but preferably intermittent. Hence the provision for raising and lowering the picking drums |00. It is also desirable that in such intermittent picking, the drums move bodily upwardly and downwardly over the fowls to provide a more thorough picking process. 'As the rams |24 are extended, the picking drums |00 are elevated and guided by slots 36. The upper portions 82 of the slots 80 are vertical as explained above, and guide thev picking drums upwardly and' downwardly over the fowls. As the picking drums |00 descend from the portions 82 of the slots, they are guided outwardly and downwardly by the lower portions 84 of the slots 80, so that the drums are withdrawn from the fowls and guided away from the head holding means 30.

The objective of the means for providing intermittent picking is that the drums come into and out of engagement with the fowls. Such action in conventional pickers is accomplished by having the picking means raised and lowered along the fowls, and to come out of engagement with the fowls by continuing the downward movement beyond the lower extremities of the fowls. In

the present case after the picking drums are L lowered to the lower ends of the fowls they are separated, and spread away from the center of the machine to avoid striking the head holding means. f

It will be noted from Figure l that the extremities of the picking fingers ||0 on the two drums |00 intermesh somewhat to assure that as much of the surface of the fowls as possible will be covered. v'

It is obvious of course that the speed of the chains 50 in the head holding means 30 is the same as the overhead conveyor.

Cycles of movement of the picking drums in their up and down movement can be regulated so that the fowls will be subjected to the picking process several times during their travel through the machine. It has been found that two or three times is the most effective for completely picking the fowls. This number may of course be varied to suit circumstances.

' The machineV herein described' is preferably intended to be used in conjunction with a picking machine heretofore known, in which the picking lingers sweep downwardly over the fowls. In such anv operation of sweeping downwardly over the fowls, many of the feathers are removed, but as pointed out above, there are certain parts of the fowls that are not reached by the picking lingers. After the fowls have been subjected to the down sweeping operation,` they are then subjected to the picking operation disclosed herein, and substantially all of the remaining feathers are thereby removed.

While I have herein disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is susceptible of modication without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not therefore wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A method of picking fowls comprising the steps of suspending the fowls with their heads down, conveying the fowl when so suspended, guiding the neck of the fowl to a point where it isv automatically and looselyY seized for conveyance, whereby the neck and head of the fowl hangV vertically downward, conveying the suspended fowl with the loosely seized neck, applying a picking force upwardly over the fowl, whereby the body oi the fowl tends to be thrown upwards, and the step of engaging the head of the fowl during the picking operation' to restrain the body of the fowl from `being thrown'upwards by the picking force.

2. A method of picking fowls comprising the steps of suspending the fowls with their heads down, conveying the fowl when so suspended, guiding the neck of the fowl to a point where it is automatically and loosely seized for conveyance, whereby the neck and head of the fowl hang vertically downward, conveying the suspended fowl with the loosely seized neck, intermittently applying a picking force upwardly over the fowl, whereby the body of the fowl tends to be thrown upwards, and the step of engaging the head of the fowl during the picking operation to restrain the body of the fowl from being thrown upwards by the picking force.

3. A method of picking fowls comprising the steps of suspending the fowls with their heads down, conveying the fowl when so suspended, guiding the neck of the fowl to a point where it is automatically and loosely seized for conveyance, whereby the neck and head of the fowl hang vertically downward, conveying thel suspended fowl with the loosely seized neck, applying a picking force upwardly over a portion of the body of the fowl, whereby the body of the fowl tends to be thrown upwards, and the step of engaging the head of the fowl during the picking operation to restrain the body of the fowl from being thrown upwards by the picking force.

4. A method of picking fowls comprising lthe steps of suspending the fowls with their heads down, conveying the fowl when so suspended, guiding the neck of the fowl to a point where it is automatically and loosely seized for conveyance, whereby the neck and head of the fowl hang vertically downward, conveying the suspended fowl with the loosely seized neck, applying a picking force upwardly over a portion of the body of the fowl, moving said picking force upwardly and downwardly over the body of the fowl, whereby the body of the fowl tends to be thrown upwards, and the step of restraining the downward end of the fowl from being thrown upwards by the picking force.

5. A method of picking fowls comprising the steps of suspending the fowls with their heads down, conveying the fowl when so suspended, guiding the neck of the fowl to a point where it is automatically and loosely seized for conveyance, whereby the neck and head of the fowl hang vertically downward, conveying the sus- 1 pended fowl with the loosely seized neck, applying a picking force upwardly over a, portion of the body of the fowl, moving said picking force over the body of the fowl from one end of the fowl to the other end and then reversing the 1 motion, whereby the body of the fowl tends to be thrown upwards, and the step of engaging the head of the fowl during the picking operation to restrain the body of the fowl from being thrown upwards by the picking force.

ALLEN W. SHARP.

-LFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,217,393 Berg Feb. 27, 1917 1,889,228 Swanson Nov. 29, 1932 2,235,619 McMahan et al Mar. 18, 1941 2,328,770 Earker Sept. 7, 1943 2,412,333 Jasper Dec. 10, 1946 2,422,695 Albright June 17, 1947 2,469,345 Toti et al May 3, 1949 2,469,953 Davis May 19, 1949 

